owards
its base, which prevents the gazer from obtaining a complete view. The
name of Llangollen signifies the church of Collen, and the vale and
village take their name from the church, which was originally dedicated
to Saint Collen, though some, especially the neighbouring peasantry,
suppose that Llangollen is a compound of Llan, a church, and Collen, a
hazel-wood, and that the church was called the church of the hazel-wood
from the number of hazels in the neighbourhood. Collen, according to a
legendary life, which exists of him in Welsh, was a Briton by birth, and
of illustrious ancestry. He served for some time abroad as a soldier
against Julian the Apostate, and slew a Pagan champion who challenged the
best man amongst the Christians. Returning to his own country he devoted
himself to religion, and became Abbot of Glastonbury, but subsequently
retired to a cave on the side of a mountain, where he lived a life of
great austerity. Once as he was lying in his cell he heard two men out
abroad discoursing about Wyn Ab Nudd, and saying that he was king of the
Tylwyth or Teg Fairies, and lord of Unknown, whereupon Collen thrusting
his head out of his cave told them to hold their tongues, for that Wyn Ab
Nudd and his host were merely devils. At dead of night he heard a
knocking at the door, and on his asking who was there, a voice said: "I
am a messenger from Wyn Ab Nudd, king of Unknown, and I am come to summon
thee to appear before my master to-morrow, at mid-day, on the top of the
hill."

Collen did not go--the next night there was the same knocking and the
same message. Still Collen did not go. The third night the messenger
came again and repeated his summons, adding that if he did not go it
would be the worse for him. The next day Collen made some holy water,
put it into a pitcher and repaired to the top of the hill, where he saw a
wonderfully fine castle, attendants in magnificent liveries, youths and
damsels dancing with nimble feet, and a man of honourable presence before
the gate, who told him that the king was expecting him to dinner. Collen
followed the man into the castle, and beheld the king on a throne of
gold, and a table magnificently spread before him. The king welcomed
Collen, and begged him to taste of the dainties on the table, adding that
he hoped that in future he would reside with him. "I will not eat of the
leaves of the forest," said Collen.

"Did you ever see men better dressed?" said